13.05.2016, 03:33
PITTSFORD, N. Jason Kipnis Flexbase Jersey .Y. - After a shaky start to training camp, Buffalo Bills quarterback EJ Manuel has had a renewed confidence on the practice field in recent days. Buffalo is looking to keep that momentum on its side in its first real test of the preseason when the Bills play the New York Giants in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, on Sunday. "Obviously we want to go out there and put out a great product," Manuel said. "Its national TV. Its the kickoff of the NFL season so obviously we want to start off with a bang." Most of the attention has been on Manuel at Buffalos training camp in suburban Rochester. The Bills have surrounded the second-year quarterback with an assortment of playmaking options, including newcomers Sammy Watkins and Mike Williams at wide receiver and incumbents C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson at running back. With an assortment of talent at the skill positions, the pressure is on the former first-round pick to step up and lead the Bills into the post-season for the first time since 1999. As expected, the results have been mixed two weeks into training camp. Watkins, the dynamic rookie chosen fourth overall after Buffalo traded up in the draft, has been electric. After injury-filled seasons one year ago, Spiller and Jackson are healthy and running well. But Manuels first week on the practice field was littered with incompletions, slow reads in the pocket and questionable decision-making. Manuel has made progress throughout Buffalos second week of camp. On Wednesday, he appeared to have more command in the pocket and connected with second-year receiver Robert Woods for a pair of impressive touchdowns in the red zone. He also connected with receiver Chris Hogan on a decisive throw in a tight window down the middle of the field. On Thursday, he was aggressive early in the practice session and found Watkins for a 99-yard touchdown down the left sideline. "We have been making strides," Manuel said. "Even in the dog days of last week, I felt like we were still making strides to get to this point. Its not always going to be perfect. The O-line has been doing a great job. Our communication has really picked up. I think thats just allowing us quarterbacks to have time to throw the ball downfield to our receivers." After displaying a conservative nature on the field as a rookie, Manuels aggressiveness in recent days has been encouraging. The quarterback said that he has watched film of top quarterbacks around the league — including Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Russell Wilson and Cam Newton — and gained more of an appreciation for taking chances down the field. "I think a lot of the throws that Ive started to make this year, at least attempted to make, I wasnt doing it last year," Manuel said. "I think instead of being more cautious ... our receivers, they want to make plays. They want the opportunity to make a big catch. I think watching a guy like Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees, they cut it loose. They allow their receivers to go out and make a play and earn their money. I think thats what Ive started to do." Manuel and the Bills still have a long way to go, but the quarterback feels that their progress is heading in the right direction. On Sunday, they get their first chance to prove it. "I think were progressing along the timeline that we want to be progressing," Manuel said. "Were still four weeks away from the opener in the regular season, so as long as we continue to put a brick in each day and get better and better, I think well be more than ready to go." Custom Cleveland Indians Jersey . All of the games arent created equal and with bowl season kicking off Saturday with the first four matchups, its time to rank them from best to "35th most exciting. Jason Kipnis Grey Jersey . Despite almost exhausting all methods of saying no by this point, the B.C. native once again shot down the notion of facing his teammate. However, MacDonalds reluctance appeared to raise the ire of Tyron Woodley, who was preparing for a bout with Josh Koscheck.Baltimore, MD (SportsNetwork.com) - Just seconds after the Baltimore Ravens wrapped up a Week 17 win over the Cleveland Browns, the fans at M&T Bank Stadium broke into a cheer. The Ravens are back in the playoffs. Joe Flacco tossed both of his touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and the Ravens rallied past the Browns 20-10 on Sunday afternoon. As time expired in Baltimore, the clock was also ticking down the final seconds in Kansas City, where a 19-7 Chiefs victory wrapped up a Ravens trip to the postseason for the sixth time in the last seven years. There is no not seeing the scoreboard. Its all over the place, Flacco said. Anything can happen when you get into the playoffs. Baltimore, which is the sixth seed in the AFC, failed to make the playoffs in 2013. The Ravens will travel to Pittsburgh next Saturday night to take on the AFC North-champion Steelers. The Browns led 10-3 heading into the fourth quarter before the Ravens ripped off 17 unanswered points to seize control. Flacco, who threw for 215 of his 312 yards in the second half, completed 22- of-36 passes for Baltimore (10-6), which won three of its last four games to close the regular season. Justin Forsett carried the ball 17 times for 119 yards, Torrey Smith caught four passes for 83 yards and a touchdown and Steve Smith added eight receptions for 90 yards in the triumph. Undrafted rookie Connor Shaw was 14-of-28 for 177 yards with an interception in his first NFL start for the Browns (7-9), who finished their campaign with five consecutive losses. We had our chances, Cleveland coach Mike Pettine said. I thought we executed our plan well for three quarters, just couldnt finish. Shaw got the nod after Johnny Manziel suffered a hamstring injury against Carolina last Sunday, while Brian Hoyer is dealing with shoulder and biceps injuries. Terrance West totaled 94 yards and a touchdown on the ground in defeat. Justin Tucker kicked a 28-yard field goal to get the Ravens within 10-6 early in the fourth, and Baltimores defense forced a pair of Cleveland three-and- outs on its next two possessions. Matched up 1-on-1 against Clevelands Joe Haden, Torrey Smith ran down the left sideline as Flacco lofteed a deep pass and adjusted to the ball to haul in a 53-yard reception that got Baltimore in the red zone. Cleveland Indians Jersey. . Flacco fired a 16-yard TD pass in the back of the end zone to Torrey Smith a play later for a 13-10 Baltimore advantage with 7:33 left. Baltimore got the ball back just 33 seconds later. Forsett scampered for 27 yards down the right sideline and Flacco threw a 24-yard completion to Steve Smith to put the ball at the 3. Flacco later flipped a 2-yard score to Kamar Aiken in the front part of the end zone on third down to up the advantage to 20-10 with 3:44 remaining. Lardarius Webb intercepted Shaw with 2:28 on the clock to seal the outcome. Earlier, Shaw flipped a 30-yard pass to Jordan Cameron on Clevelands opening series, but Terrell Suggs recovered a Shaw fumble at the Baltimore 27. Flacco tossed completions of 17 and 21 yards to Michael Campanaro and Forsett, respectively, later in the opening quarter and a Buster Skrine pass interference penalty set the Ravens up with a 1st-and-goal at the 2. Bernard Pierce was stopped shy of the end zone on first and second down, Flacco missed Crockett Gillmore on third down and Baltimore coach John Harbaugh elected to go for it on fourth down from the 1. Forsett, though, lost three yards after he was met by a host of Browns. The Ravens finally opened the scoring midway through the second. Forsett broke off a 32-yard run off left tackle, which helped set up Tucker for a 25-yard field goal. Cleveland answered with three points on its ensuing series. West scampered for 36 yards along the left sideline and Garrett Hartley capped a 10-play, 55-yard march with a 38-yard field goal to tie the game late in the first half. The Browns went in front on their second possession of the third quarter, when West plunged in from two yards out for a 10-3 Browns cushion late in the frame. Game Notes Flacco improved to 13-1 all-time against the Browns ... Cleveland hasnt made the postseason in 12 years and finished with a losing record for a seventh season in a row ... Forsett had been held to just 67 yards combined over his last two games ... The Ravens outgained the Browns 419-259.